Megabloks is stealing Technic building techniques

[Plastic Nurak]

I was spying MBs activities via open sources (their own building instruction) when I saw this obscenity in those of a HALO set :

This means war to me !

PS Edit the title in proper English, please .

Edited February 16, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[Izzy]

Oh noes! Megablocks is stoling!?

What is with the sudden epidemic of MB haters on Eurobricks? Are you really so insecure about LEGO that you think it will make a difference? Just go back to playing with your LEGO and forget about it.

[JunkstyleGio]

Clonebrands will always copy techiques from LEGO.

That´s a fact. Not a god one for that matter; but there is not much we can do about it!

[Plastic Nurak]

[Off Topic]Gerund for to steal is stealing ?[/OT]

Yes, they are using the oldest technic building mode, but while we don't care of these ridiculous clone-pins, next years we will see a MBs LEGO-based differential, then a MBs LEGO-based pneumatics... but this isn't important! We are on the right side! And so on.

Let I don't agree with you.

Yes, it's sure that rip off is unavoidable, those a**h**es are uncapable to invent an alternative building system and they go f**k buyers and both AFoCs and kids minds saying: there's not possibility to share market profits with something completely different. Am I a stupid of it's true that this assumption is a lie?

Edited February 16, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[mahjqa]

Two things I'm wondering about;

1: will their technic holes be at the proper heighth? Apparently, a technic hole isn't the same heighth as (for example) the stud on a headlight brick. it's a very small difference, but apparently it's there.

2: what's the point of differently colored technic pins?

[RockeTeK]

2: what's the point of differently colored technic pins?

To show where they have to go (look also for the green and red circles) asif kids are that stupid...?!

[allanp]

It could be a good thing. Nothing keeps prices down like competition and right now, technic doesn't really have any competition. Besides, if they make some longer pneumatics I won't be complaining!

What am I saying. DOWN WITH MEGABLOCKS!!!!!!

[dr_spock]

When you have something good everybody wants to copy it. Does Lego have a patent on this?

[mahjqa]

When you have something good everybody wants to copy it. Does Lego have a patent on this?

Well, they had. In 1976. These things expire eventually, though.

And Lego had a couple of decades to profit from their invention. A little competition ought to keep them sharp (and prices a little lower)

Edited February 17, 2011 by mahjqa

[vexorian]

I see things that have been in use by LEGO for years. So much time that maybe whatever IP LEGO could have had on that had probably expired already.

Competition is a great thing. But let us avoid using a name like competition to describe the selling of a clone product with 10% the quality at 50% the price.

Edited February 17, 2011 by vexorian

[Brickdoctor]

I laugh at any chance this has to overtake Technic. Remember the old MegaBloks 1 x 2s with a hole in the middle? That was essentially a Technic copy. And some of the old wheels were attached to bricks with a Technic pin on the side. I also remember that those pieces are under even more stress than System-copy elements, and they were very brittle and either snapped right away or were so tight they didn't rotate. Maybe they've been improved, but I doubt this is going to damage LEGO sales.

As for the Technic pins in different colors... I'm sure it's going to drive some people nuts, seeing as the parts callouts list them as black. I mean, if they want to color-code them, the least they could do is actually mold them in that color. Not like TLG doesn't use out-of-place colors.

[Off Topic]Gerund for to steal is stealing ?[/OT]

[Off Topic]That would be a participle. A gerund is a verb form used as a noun, and only as a noun. 'Stealing' doesn't rename 'MegaBloks'; it describes it. Therefore, stealing must be a predicate adjective. A verb form that is not an infinitive and is used as an adjective is a participle. (and yes, I realize English probably isn't your first language. Just kidding you) [/Off Topic]

[mahjqa]

Can someone please fix the thread title?

[fred67]

I'm not really seeing the problem... TLG's patent expires on technic bricks and a clone brand starts making them.

I don't see what's particularly heinous about the instructions given... that using two pins to hold the bricks straight is a LEGO "building technique?" Otherwise I just don't get it... that's like saying "well, they can copy the basic brick, but they can't have instructions to stack them like LEGO!"

I'm just not seeing a problem here... if you prefer LEGO, keep buying LEGO. In fact, in this case, I think it's not just good to have competition, it's GREAT, because TLG is dropping technic bricks, I thought... now I won't buy MB technic bricks, but if TLG isn't going to sell them then at least there's something for people to buy.

[Chrizzle]

Hey,

well i saw megablocks first on amazon.de and it is of course two sided:

on the one hand a little competition might keep the prices lower,

BUT on the other hand i think that megablocks wont be able to gain lots of costumers with copying something that already exists, with lower quality...it's just a shame...

I'm also sure that LEGO has still some patents concerning measurements of the parts, colour schemes and so on...

And don't forget, that LEGO has A LOT MORE experience and a huge advantage in kowledge concerning building techniques and production processes!

I just hope that megablocks get wiped off the market ;-)

[fred67]

I just hope that megablocks get wiped off the market ;-)

So LEGO can double it's profit margin... cool!

[freakwave]

Can someone please fix the thread title?

What do you mean? Adding another "o"...

Sorry, had to do this , delete if inappropriate

[Plastic Nurak]

Greed it's not a synonym of competition. In another thread (and, of course again in another on) I remembered when competitors used their own interlocking system, as Exin Tente or Italocremona Plastic City did, offering some different building options. Here is my review (in Spanish) of an 10 yo Tente set (released in 2001) - see just the images (in this case words are not important) to see how a different interlocking system could work:

http://www.exincastillos.es/board/post50058.html#p50058

Tente system is anymore on shelves because Cobi, who had became owner of Borras brand (after the failure of Exin Lines, B. bought -and I think renewed - Tente patents and rights), deciced from a day to another, to enter in the clone market, despite of a huge amount of Exin-based products fan (mainly in Spain and South America). But, this choice was surely suggested by Cobi owners' greed.

Edited February 19, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[Flash]

Frequent browser, first time poster, so forgive me.

Couple o comments about this.

I have the set in question (It's the Halo Pelican)

I also have several of the other Halo themed sets.

I also am a big fan of Lego, and am building a collection up (technic, modular buildings, Taj Mahal, etc)

I love them all. I can tell you that the MegaBloks quality isn't quite there. Some blocks fit together tight, some loose. The color control is a bit off.

If Lego had the Halo theme building sets, then I wouldn't have any of the Megabloks, and that'd be fine with me. I bought them as I love the Halo Universe, and love building things.

Just remember, competition is good. More selection, lower prices, etc.

And, for what it's worth, MegaBloks is a Canadian company, so not sure how that affects the patents.

[Siegfried]

Can someone please fix the thread title?

Fixed.

Please note that if this topic doesn't stay focused on Technic competition it will be moved... and possible closed.

(IMHO there has been too much M%g@ Bl*ks discussion on EB lately. Positive or negative makes no difference, it just doesn't really belong on this site.)

[DLuders]

[if Siegfried (the Eurobricks "Technic, Mindstorms, and Model Team" Forum "Global Moderator") wants to close this topic, that's his prerogative.]

There are certain Mega Bloks Probuilder sets that The Lego Group will never do, such as their 3251 Leopard 2 Tank pictured below. TLG does not like OVERTLY military themes (because "War is not fun").

This policy is a bit puzzling, because when one compares the Mega Bloks Halo set below and the (similar) Lego sets pictured below, both are fantasy pseudo military models:

There's no question that Lego bricks are manufactured with higher quality than Mega Bloks bricks. However, that higher quality comes at an increased cost. Mega Bloks sets are often sold side-by-side with Lego sets, so when some kid picks out a MILITARY Mega Bloks set, it may be because TLG does not offer that set. I guess the world is big enough for both brands to coexist....

[Siegfried]

[if Siegfried (the Eurobricks "Technic, Mindstorms, and Model Team" Forum "Global Moderator") wants to close this topic, that's his prerogative.]

I'll move it for now.

[Omicron]

MB stealing from Lego? oh noes!! :O

Did you know that Lego steals ideas from customizors? Yeah that's what I thought.

No one is original in this world, not even Lego.

-Omi

[Aanchir]

MB stealing from Lego? oh noes!! :O

Did you know that Lego steals ideas from customizors? Yeah that's what I thought.

No one is original in this world, not even Lego.

-Omi

To be fair, what people are concerned about is the copying of functional design elements rather than just ideas. Ideas like real-life weapons, armor, and animals are nobody's property, and taking the idea from someone else's recent use of it is in my opinion no more shameful than taking an idea that hasn't been used in decades.

Functional design attributes like the design of Technic pins are something where a company is directly profiting from another company's work. However, there's no real legal case for calling this "plagiarism", since according to the LEGO vs. MegaBloks court case, functional design attributes can't be trademarked, and there's not much variety in how they can be carried out.

Needless to say, I question this ruling-- K'nex and Tinkertoy, for instance, have demonstrated for many years that a building toy using entirely different functional design principles than LEGO is perfectly possible. But legally, this is just an extension of what MegaBloks and other clone brands have been doing for years-- using intercompatible parts as a selling point. So there's nothing particularly egregious about this development.

[CMP]

It's not like they're taking over Lego. They'll always have to stare at Lego's feet.

[5150 Lego]

I'm not really seeing the problem... TLG's patent expires on technic bricks and a clone brand starts making them.

I don't see what's particularly heinous about the instructions given... that using two pins to hold the bricks straight is a LEGO "building technique?" Otherwise I just don't get it... that's like saying "well, they can copy the basic brick, but they can't have instructions to stack them like LEGO!"

I'm just not seeing a problem here... if you prefer LEGO, keep buying LEGO. In fact, in this case, I think it's not just good to have competition, it's GREAT, because TLG is dropping technic bricks, I thought... now I won't buy MB technic bricks, but if TLG isn't going to sell them then at least there's something for people to buy.

This about sums it up. Some people take things alittle to much to the heart. I understand the love of LEGO, but its really nothing to get this worked up about. In this case there's only some many ways your going to conect technic style conectors, let alone the basic brick. In this case there is no Building techniquing being stolen. Not even the brick.

Anyhow, does MB even have there own technic line, or is this just a page in there instruction booklet for one of there sets that has technic style bricks and pins?

(IMHO there has been too much M%g@ Bl*ks discussion on EB lately. Positive or negative makes no difference, it just doesn't really belong on this site.)

Why? Positive or negative as long as its kept cival whats wrong with a little disscusion on a competing brand? This is the off topic section were everything non lego related belong anyhow.

Edited February 19, 2011 by 5150 Lego